How might Russia respond after Kyiv’s daring move?

According to a report by the Institute for the Study of War, Ukraine’s operation using drones against Russian strategic aviation could temporarily limit Russia’s ability to launch long-range strikes on Ukraine and shape Moscow’s response.

According to the ISW, the Ukrainian attack on 1 June specifically targeted aircraft used by Russia to launch cruise missiles, as well as airborne early warning and command aircraft (such as the A-50), which are tasked with identifying Ukrainian air defence systems and coordinating Russian fighter operations.

"The 1 June operation will likely force the Russian authorities to reassess the deployment of their air defence systems in order to cover a wider area, and to consider using mobile groups capable of reacting quickly to future similar Ukrainian drone attacks," the Institute’s report highlights.

"These enemy bombers targeted our country almost every night. Today, they have realised that retaliation is inevitable. The order to neutralise them was given to us by President Zelensky himself, who personally oversaw this operation," declared General Vasyl Maliouk, head of the Ukrainian security service (SBU).

(MH with AmBar - Source: ISW / X - Photo: © Unsplash)